Housing & Real Estate

“It was always about affordable housing. We listened to the public and we clarified that the EP is about affordable housing and for helping families affected by the housing crisis,” Gov. Green said. “This new EP focuses on what we all agree will push forward new affordable housing projects.” The EP excludes the area affected by the Lahaina wildfires.

Hawaiian Community Assets extends a huge mahalo to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs for recognizing the organization with a $1.5 million grant to increase access to services, grants, loans, and housing opportunities for Native Hawaiians looking to rent or own homes.

Homeowners and renters whose primary residence was damaged or destroyed by the fires may apply for up to $3,000 in initial assistance per household. Applications are open through Dec. 31, 2023, and are available at https://www.hawaiirealtors.com/mauirelief/.

Funding has been secured for the third and final phase of the Hale O Piʻikea affordable, mixed-use rental housing community in Kīhei. The 223-unit development aims to provide quality, affordable housing options for individuals and families at or below 60% of the Area Median Income.

Destination Residences Wailea and Wailea Beach Villas has selected Brandon Sacks to fill the role of business development manager.

“Government needs to change its mentality from intentionally constraining the supply of housing to incentivizing it, and this new grant program will help us do that,” said US Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) who authored the legislation.

The Honolulu City Council is considering a bill that would penalize ‘monster home’ developers who falsify building plans.

An Environmental Impact Statement Preparation Notice has been filed for the proposed development of a new Central Maui Wastewater Reclamation Facility and onsite Soil Aquifer Treatment basin in Waikapū.

Median Sales Price decreased 19.6% to $1,007,000 for single family homes but increased 21.9% to $984,450 for condominium homes, according to the latest report released by the Realtors Association of Maui for June 2023.

The data collected will help the Hawaiʻi Housing Finance and Development Corporation and others in the affordable housing community to identify the greatest areas of needs. This will allow HHFDC to make more informed decisions about how to best maximize resources.

Hawaiian Community Assets has been awarded $903,168 to expand housing counseling and financial education support for its Kahua Waiwai Homebuyer Program.

This workshop, presented by Nā’iwa Agricultural Subdivision Alliance and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, will provide valuable insights and guidance for 58 individuals and their families interested in agricultural pursuits on their Hawaiian home lands.

American Savings Bank joined forces with Hawaiʻi Community Lending to make a $4.3 million investment in homeownership opportunities for eligible native Hawaiians residing on Hawaiian home lands.

The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands held a groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday, marking the start of a $17 million capital improvement project to install infrastructure for the planned Puʻunani subdivision in Waikapū. DHHL reports the funding is the first from the $600 million appropriated under Act 279 to serve beneficiaries on the DHHL waitlist.

The County of Maui Department of Finance will hold a real property tax sale on Tuesday in Kīhei to auction properties that have been delinquent for three or more years and have received their final notice of tax sale. As of May 18, there were seven properties scheduled to be sold.

Armstrong Builders recently received a 2023 Gold Nugget Merit Award in the Best Multi-Family Housing Community category for Makali‘i at Wailea.

The Pulelehua housing project in West maui has received its grading permit for the first phase of Mahinahina Hills. The project still needs a building permit to begin vertical construction according to West Maui Taxpayers Association President, Joseph Pluta.

Maui County condo prices increased nearly 25% year over year to $908,000, according to a Realtors Association of Maui market activity report released this week. About a third of the condos that sold last month were in luxury areas with medians well over $1 million to $2 million.

Maui County is far behind its goal of creating 5,000 affordable homes for local people over five years, according to an update this week on the Maui County Comprehensive Affordable Housing Plan. Since the plan was finalized a couple years ago, 675 homes are being built and another 943 homes are approved for construction. Assuming that 600 rent and homeownership opportunities are secured through other projects outlined in the plan, roughly 3,000 homes are needed in under three years.

Media mogul and billionaire Oprah Winfrey recently purchased about 870 acres of Kula agricultural land for nearly $6.6 million in recent months, adding to hundreds of acres of real estate she already owns in Kula and in Hana. Winfrey bought four parcels total, according to sales deeds.